The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Niger-Delta

  • Resurgent Niger Delta militancy?

    This is an unwelcome development and must be nipped in the bud

    Just as Nigerians are beginning to heave a sigh of relief at the obvious substantial downgrading of the protracted Boko Haram insurgency in the North East, the effective crippling of the destructive efficacy of the insurgents and the imminence of a return to normalcy in the area, a combustible scenario is developing in the Niger Delta region. An emergent shadowy group that calls itself Niger Delta Avengers has launched a violent campaign of vandalising pipelines and blowing up critical oil facilities in parts of the oil-rich region. So far, the Niger Delta Avengers has claimed responsibility for the destruction of oil facilities in Warri, Delta State. These include a Royal Dutch Shell production facility, Eja OML 79, a Chevron Valve Platform in Abiteye, Warri North Local Government Area as well as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) crude and gas lines in the state.

    These attacks have had a debilitating impact on the country’s petroleum industry at a time of grim economic hardship, arising from the sharp fall in international crude oil prices and a marked decline in petroleum revenues. Production has been halted in the affected facilities, reducing the country’s daily export capacity while nervous oil firms are evacuating their staff for fear of future attacks. The purported spokesman of the group has reportedly said that the Niger Delta Avengers “shall continue blowing up pipelines until the Niger Delta people are no longer marginalised by the Nigerian actors”.

    It is difficult to find any rhyme, reason or logic to this kind of nebulous and vacuous statement. This must be just a gang of intellectually puerile bandits who are not motivated by any ennobling cause.

    Niger Delta armed militancy began during the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo presidency and intensified under the late President Umaru Yar‘Adua. The militants kidnapped oil workers for ransom and attacked oil facilities in protest against the marginalisation of the region, the extensive destruction of the environment by oil firms, without compensation, and the abysmal poverty of the people.

    At that time, the militants enjoyed the support of the people of the Niger Delta as well as the sympathy of people outside the region who did not support the violence of the militants but recognised the justice of their cause. The Niger Delta insurgency was brought to an end through the Amnesty initiative of the Yar’Adua administration, which saw the militants giving up their arms in exchange for financial compensation. Some of the benefits of the struggle included the 13 percent derivation revenue enjoyed by oil-producing states, the creation of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Ministry of Niger Delta to accelerate development in the area as well as the Presidential Amnesty Programme, which provided entrepreneurial training and empowerment as well as academic scholarships for thousands of ex-militants in the region.

    If the activities of the Niger Delta Avengers signal the resurgence of militancy in the region, the development is a severe indictment of the preceding President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. An Ijaw man from the Niger Delta, Jonathan had ample opportunity to utilise the immense powers of his office to actualise genuine fiscal federalism that would have tremendously benefitted the Niger Delta, where the petroleum resources that constitute the mainstay of the economy are derived. Unfortunately, he chose to empower and pamper a few ex-militants, who became multi-millionaires and are still a law unto themselves even today.

    Equally culpable are the political elites across the region that did not maximally utilise the resources at their disposal to promote development and alleviate the poverty of the people. The numbing poverty that pervades the Niger Delta stands in sharp contrast to the obscene opulence of a minority who have had access to public offices and resources.

    Neither the federal nor the Niger Delta state governments have been able to exhibit the requisite moral authority or political will to compel the international oil firms to live up to their responsibilities to the communities from which they make so much wealth with devastating environmental and health consequences. These companies operate here in ways they would never dare contemplate in their home countries.

    While there is still much more to be done to reverse and compensate for decades of degradation and exploitation in the Niger Delta, resurgent militancy at this time can only worsen the plight of the region and erode the modest gains of the recent past. We thus commend such groups as the Ijaw Youth Council, Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative as well as the Foundation for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption, which have urged all aggrieved Niger Delta groups to shun violence and pursue their objectives within the ambit of the law.

    The reiteration by the military high command of its determination to vigorously defend oil facilities and deal decisively with criminals is in order. But this must be done in accordance with stipulated rules of engagement and scrupulous care not to endanger innocent lives.

  • Activists demand clean-up of Niger Delta

    Activists demand clean-up of Niger Delta

    Niger Delta must be cleaned, say environmental activists in a historic environmental awareness programme held at Ogbia Local Government Area Bayelsa State.

    Notable environmentalists and champions of climate change education gathered at the site of the first oil well on Tuesday to canvass for the clean-up of the oil-polluted region.

    Oil was first struck in commercial quantity in Nigeria on June 26, 1956 at the Oloibiri Oil Well 1 at the rate of 5,000 barrels per day.

    The 12,008 feet Oloibiri oil well has since become a shadow of itself. The first well is no longer producing oil. Sadly, it has been abandoned by oil multinationals, the Federal Government and others, who milked it dry, the way an ungrateful child forsakes his mother.

    Its immediate environment has also been abandoned to decay after many years of oil-induced pollution. The Otuabadi and other host communities of the well, still wallow in abject poverty. In fact, there is nothing in the communities to show that they hosted the first oil well in the country.

    But there is a monument, a symbol of oil well built by the government at the site of the first wellhead. It was built by the Federal Ministry of Tourism and National Orientation in 2013, maybe as the government’s only way of remembering the contributions of the communities to national growth and development.

    No wonder the Nengi James Foundation in partnership with other civil society groups decided to hold its sensitisation programme at the Oloibiri oil well. The programme tagged, “Role of fossil fuels on climate change” was designed as part of global week of events to raise awareness on the need for communities to support government’s efforts to clean up the Niger Delta region.

    Indeed, it was a gathering of activists and host communities. The Director of the Environmental Rights Action (ERA) Mr. Nnimmo Bassey and other state representatives of ERA like Alagoa Morris were present at the occasion.

    All of them had one message.  They demanded the immediate clean up of polluted areas in the Niger Delta by the Federal Government and multinational oil companies and advocated an end to crude oil spills and gas flaring in the region.

    The demands of the host communities of the first oil well, were reeled out by Chief Napoleon Ofuruma, a former chairman of Ogbia Local Government Area. He lamented that oil exploration and exploitation had brought tales of environmental devastation and suffering to the people.

    Ofuruma said because of the drilling of oil with its consequences of pollution, it has not been easy for the people to return to their basic occupations of farming and fishing. He cried out that nothing had been done to clean the communities’ polluted land and creeks.

    In his remarks, Bassey dwelled on the need for the nation to embrace alternative sources of energy by de-emphasizing on fossil fuels which he described as major drivers of climate change.

    Also speaking, the facilitator of the programme and Founder, Nengi James Foundation, Alabo Nengi James blamed the pollution of communities, coastal erosion and ocean surge including climate change on oil exploitation.

    James, who is also the Chairman of the Civil Liberties organisation (CLO) in Bayelsa State, urged the Federal Government to grant at least 10% of the revenues to host and oil-producing communities to facilitate the development of such areas.

    Many solidarity messages from the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), the Ijaw Women Connect (IWC) and leaders of civil society groups were read at the occasion. They called on government to ensure the speedy clean-up of all communities in the Niger Delta devastated by pollution.

    In a related development, the Environmental Management Association of Nigeria (EMAN) has commended  President Muhammadu Buhari for mustering the political will to embark on Ogoni Clean-up exercise.

    Its National President, Dr Emmanuel Ating, gave the commendation at a news conference in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital, while highlighting some environmental management issues facing Nigeria .

    He said his association was delighted to hear from the Minister of Environment, Mrs. Amina Mohammed that the Federal Government would flag off Ogoni Clean-up exercise on June 2.

    He noted that the clean up exercise had been long overdue going by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)  reports released in 2011.

    His words: “The leadership and entire members of EMAN are grateful to President Muhammadu Buhari for mustering the political will to embark on the Ogoni Clean up as recommended by UNEP.

    “The action of the president is highly commendable but as a professional body, EMAN wishes to advise that the clean-up of Ogoniland should not be politicised.

    “The Federal Ministry of Environment should be transparent in all stages of the clean-up.”

    He called for the engagement of skilled and experienced environmental managers in the clean-up exercise.

    He reminded the Federal Government not to allow the Ogoni clean up to suffer the same fate as the control of Nypa Palms  (Nipa Fruitican) spread in the mangrove swamps.

    Ating noted that proliferation of Nypa Palm aggravated coastal erosion and flooding but the Federal Ministry of Environment had abandoned the Nypa Palm control after inauguration in 2001.

    The association also called on the federal government to convene a national forum to discuss the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change.

    He said the forum was necessary to enable environment stakeholders know implementation response measures initiated by the Federal Government.

    He noted that there was need for awareness creation on the Paris Agreement 2015 before implementation by government following Article 12 of the Agreement.

    He quoted the agreement thus: “Parties should cooperate in taking measures, as appropriate, to enhance climate change education, training, public awareness, public participation and public access to information.”

    EMAN president urged the Federal Government to refrain from establishing Climate Change Commission rather all the agencies of the Ministry of environment should be strengthened to function effectively.

    The professional body also urged Federal Government to lace military operations with environmental management strategies in rebuilding the ruins in North Eastern Nigeria.

    Ating said: “The success achieved so far by the military is enough for the the provision of infrastructure to commence.”

    He opined that absence of environmental management initiatives in the North Eastern Nigeria was responsible for long stay of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in camps. .

    “The application of military option only is counterproductive, because it produces internally displaced persons (IDPs). The military and Environmental Management strategies should be applied,” EMAN president advised.

  • We didn’t invade Oporoza community  – Army

    We didn’t invade Oporoza community  – Army

    Relevant armed forces authorities in the Niger Delta have debunked reports of a military operation into Oporoza, the headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West council area of Delta state in the early hours of Monday.

    Some national dailies and online news outlets had Tuesday  reported a military invasion of Oporoza, in search of members of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), a self-styled insurgent group, which had claimed responsibility for all recent destructions of oil and gas facilities in the creeks.

    However, authorities at the 3 Battalion, Effunrun Barracks, Effunrun, Delta state, said the report of an invasion of Oporoza community was not true as there was no such operation as suggested by the report.

    When the Nation spoke to the Commanding Officer of the cantonment, Major Monday Anzaku, Tuesday, he said he was not aware of any military invasion or special operation in Oporoza as suggested by the news reports.

    “Believe be there no such thing as we have just read in the newspapers. This is my area we are talking about, how would there have been a military operation of the nature described by the newspapers without my knowledge? Even if such would be initiated from my headquarters, I would be instructed on what to do. The report is not true,” Anzaku said.

    Also, reliable sources from the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta, when reached to confirm if the command was involved in an operation at Oporoza on Monday, said there was no operation to the area, which involved them.

    Although unable to reach the Commander of the NNS Delta, Commodore Raimi Mohammed, a very reliable source, when asked for confirmation simply relied ” negative”.

    Meanwhile, a source from the community had told the Nation on Monday afternoon that there was no problem in the community. According to him “I have called and asked my people and they said there was nothing unusual, just the normal security patrols that come and go, nothing unusual”.

    It would be recalled that several strategic oil and gas facilities, belonging mostly to Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), have been destroyed by the insurgent group.

    President Muhammadu Buhari has also recently ordered the Nigerian armed forces to go after those behind the destructive activities, which has dipped Nigeria’s crude oil export by about 510,000 barrels of oil per day.

     

  • Niger Delta Avengers and oil thieves

    SIR: In Nigeria, we wake up daily to read about problems upon problems. We are daily inundated with jaw-dropping, bizarre and messy stories of how some beasts in human form visit mindless terror on their fellow beings as well as their nation. Nigeria has literarily become a theatre of some sort where tragic plays are staged every other day before the world. It does appear we appreciate and fancy the fact that the world sees us as a bunch of unserious, hopeless and directionless people destined to fail.

    We all woke up last week to be regaled with stories of how some criminals who hide under the banner of Niger Delta struggle as agitators blew up oil facilities owned by oil multi-national company, Chevron in Warri North in Delta State. This attack, according to media reports, has forced Chevron to halt is operations within the oil-rich region. So far, a criminal gang known as the Niger Delta Avengers has claimed responsibility for the attack.

    For obvious reasons, planned or coordinated attacks on strategic national assets by individuals or criminal elements are both crimes against humanity and fatherland. It is a crime that shouldn’t be condoned by any right-thinking individual. People who perpetrate such heinous crimes shouldn’t be shielded by any sane human being. Blowing up oil facilities, out of which funds are sourced to address national challenges is akin to breaking into a hospital’s blood bank! It is sheer wickedness that shouldn’t be tolerated or rationalized for whatever reasons.

    Sadly, pipelines have been callously vandalised. Oil workers have left their work stations. Nigeria has lost huge sums of petro-dollars. Large volume of crude oil lost. All these put together constitute both economic and social loses to government and Nigerians. Those behind this latest act of criminality should have a rethink on the dangerous path they are planning to walk. I need not remind any of them of the dire consequences of testing the might of the present administration.

    If oil thieves who organised themselves under different amorphous criminal gangs collected huge sums to ‘appease aggrieved militants’ succeeded in the past, let me remind them that we have a new sheriff in town. It has ceased to be business as usual. Welcome to the era of business unusual.

    That dark era is past where common criminals who should ordinarily be cooling their heels in detention centres were daily invited to Aso Rock and given huge sums. Many were awarded contracts to ‘secure’ our waterways and other strategic national assets. It was simply a case of asking a thief to go after thieves.

    I prefer to call these criminals their real names; oil thieves. Aligning their nefarious act with a just campaign like the struggle for a better Niger Delta land is a ploy to play on the intelligence of the real victims of continuous oil exploration and exploitation in the region. They should be avoided and disgraced by the good people of the region. We have various avenues through which issues of injustice can be tabled for possible redress. Taking up arms or attacking strategic national assets is certainly not one of them.

    Unfortunately, the Niger Delta elites who should ordinarily lead and champion the struggle for a better, cleaner, prosperous and safer region have allowed thugs, militants, criminals and undesirable elements to speak on their behalf.

    It is about time well-meaning individuals in the region rose up to the challenge of evolving a credible, people-oriented and issue-based platform to highlight the region’s plights and challenges and call for urgent intervention. Genuine agitators should also draw a line between its members and criminal gangs like the thieves behind the Niger Delta Avengers group.

     

    • Abdullahi Yunusa Profwills,

    Imane, Kogi State.

  • Pipelines Attack: Don’t succumb to blackmail – Activist tells FG

    Pipelines Attack: Don’t succumb to blackmail – Activist tells FG

    Niger Delta activist, Chief Ayimi Emami has urged the Federal Government not to bow to “cheap blackmail” antics of a former militant leader who is allegedly behind Thursday a d Friday morning attacks on strategic oil facilities and pipelines in Warri area of Delta state.

    Emami’s advice cane against the backdrop of renewed attack on oil and gas platforms of Chevron Nigeria limited by the militant group, Niger Delta Avengers.

    He said, “Those who have issues bothering on criminal activities and illegalities should go to the court to answer did their deeds and clear their names rather than resorting to cheap blackmail to arm-twist the Federal Government and the EFCC to drop the charges against them.

    “One man cannot hold the FG to ransome; he cannot hold the nation by forming a parallel government within the Nigerian state.”

    Although Chief Emami did not specifically mentioned former MEND leader, Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo) it was clear that he was alluding to the warlord, who is wanted by the EFCC over his dealings with NIMASA during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Tompolo had surreptitiously denied link with NDA in advertorials and media statements, Emami said he was not impressed by the gimmick

    He said, “It has now become a pattern for this wanted man to preempt the attacks by placing advertorial denouncing the group and after which the group would strike again.

    “This is a clear and plain childish prank; disown the group three days before they strike and they would attack, blow up oil facilities and give a farcical reason for the attacks.

    “The last time he said some APC members are behind the attacks, how did the ‘leader’ of the PDP become so abreast of the workings of these so-called disgruntled APC members? Who does he thinks he is fooling? What intelligence does he have to know who and when the attacks will come?” Emami queried.

    Speaking further, the Itsekiri traditional titleholder claimed that the recent attacks are part of a move to force President Muhammadu Buhari to soft-pedal on investigations of large scale fraud and theft of public fund during the last administration.

    “They want to make Nigerians and Mr President to believe that only this wanted criminal can safeguard oil facilities in the region in order to pave the way for another bazaar in the name of pipeline/facilities surveillance.

    “But we want to urge Mr President to be steadfast and not give in to the antics of criminals because those who are genuinely committed to the development of the Niger Delta are behind him.”

    To this end, Ayiri expressed his determination and those of other Niger Deltan leaders to support the government to unravel the whereabouts of the masterminds, their sponsors and backer.

  • Minister seeks synergy among stakeholders in Niger Delta

    The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs , Usani Uguru Usani, has called on all stakeholders to work together in promoting development in the region and its environs.

    Usani made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

    He urged stakeholders to be more concerned about what would accrue to the region rather than the financial benefits accruing to them.

    Usani added that stakeholders should also focus on performance and structural reforms in the region.

    He said that to ensure a progressively stable management by streamlining the administrative structure, a development policy must be evolved and adopted by all stakeholders.

    “Such a policy will act as a complementary guide to the Niger Delta Regional Master Plan and help configure a sound planning, operational and quality management track for the commission,” he said

    He said that the development policy should itemise and prioritise the goals of the region within a specific time frame.

    “For instance, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) policy can define conditions for intervention in an infrastructural development or expansion project.

    “It can set five –year targets in agriculture and aquaculture using community based cooperatives as a vehicle.

    “It can also foster partnerships with international agencies and local partners for potential development initiatives in health, education and the environment,” the minister said.

    He, however, called for a Sustainable Development Partnership as a mechanism for greater relevance in the region which would also include a representative of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.

    The minister said the progressive drop in revenue should be the concern of the Federal Government.

    He added that it was important for NDDC to have an interface with National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) to develop the region.

    “That’s the only way the region can compute, derive and pursue what rightly should accrue to its coffers from the producing companies.

    “Economically, the NDDC plays a very important role in the economy of the Niger Delta, but the companies only remit what they decide to after their autonomous computation of what the three per cent means to them, “ he added.

    The minister said it would sustain over 50,000 permanent and temporary jobs across the region.

    “But it also offers a window for the implementation of crucial reforms which must be founded on a realistic development policy,” he said .

    He said that the small management team was an opportunity to design a transformational framework for the NDDC.

    “It is an opportunity to engage the very competent skill set within the region,“ he said.

    The minister said that key stakeholders had commenced the design of a development policy for the organisation that would drive subsequent intervention efforts.

     

  • “Yar’Adua a sincere, compassionate leader”

    “Yar’Adua a sincere, compassionate leader”

    The Chairman of Mosilo Group, Moses Siloko Siasia, has eulogised the virtues of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, describing the former president as a sincere and compassionate leader, who sought the best for his citizens.

    This is contained in a statement to commemorate the sixth anniversary of the death of the former President, in which Siasia noted that Yar’Adua stands out as one of the pious, diligent and sincere leaders in the country.

    His words: “It is six years today, but the legacy of late President Musa Yar’Adua lives on. He was a sincere and committed leader.”

    Siasia argued that the sincerity of the Yar’Adua-led administration persuaded the militants in the Niger Delta region to drop their arms and embrace peace for the greater good of the country.

    Yar'AduaThe former governorship candidate in Bayelsa State said: “He was sincere in achieving peace in the then restive Niger Delta area. His sincerity made it easier for the militants to drop arms and embrace the amnesty programme, which brought peace and economic boost to the country and the deliberate creation of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.”

    Siasia further described Yar’Adua as a detribalised Nigerian, who should be celebrated for his policies and contributions to the growth of the country and called on state governors in the Niger Delta to unanimously immortalize the late president by naming major streets in their respective state capitals after him.

    He urged the President Muhammdu Buhari-led administration to learn from the late leader in tackling the challenges of the country, especially in the Niger Delta.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari should be sincere in dealing with the needs of the Niger Delta people by engaging true leaders of the region to address the challenges. He should not only listen to his ministers, but consult other stakeholders in the region. Late President Yar’Adua consulted some of us whenever, there were crises in the region,” he observed.

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  • Military warns `militants’ against attacks on oil facilities

    Military warns `militants’ against attacks on oil facilities

    The joint military force deployed to protect oil infrastructure in the Niger Delta on Friday reiterated its resolve to crackdown on vandals and economic saboteurs.

    A statement from its spokesman, Col. Isa Ado, said that the military was poised to deal with a reported threat by vandals to resume attacks on oil facilities.

    The statement assured that the force, christened Operation Pulo Shield, would ensure the arrest of perpetrators of such vandalism and their accomplices for prosecution.

    “Anybody or group masquerading as militants are criminals and will be resisted and crushed in line with the mandate of the joint force in the Niger Delta.

    “The Federal Government granted amnesty to repentant agitators and the grant automatically ends militancy and agitation in the region. Any group or persons by whatever guise will be treated like common criminals.

    “The force had carried out aggressive patrols and surveillances within the waterways and the creeks which led to the arrest of suspects, arms and ammunition, illegal oil bunkering vessels and barges.

    “Those arrested are at various stages of prosecution in courts of competent jurisdiction,” the statement said.

    It warned vandals that threatened to attack facilities to have a re-think and desist from crossing the path of Operation Pulo Shield or be ready to face the consequences of their action.

    “The command is calling on community leaders to advise their subjects, especially youths on the dangers of engaging in any act capable of undermining the security and economy of the country.

    “Youths should engage themselves meaningfully to help themselves and the society and avoid any act capable of ruining their future.

    “The joint force assures the Niger Delta residents of its determination to wipe out all acts of illegalities in the region and urged them to volunteer useful information to aid the joint force in its operations. (NAN)

  • NDDC boosts girl-child education in Niger Delta

    NDDC boosts girl-child education in Niger Delta

    The Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, shortly after assumption of office, initiated the Girls in Engineering, Mathematics and Science (GEMS) competition, to bridge the gaps that exist in gender-related issues and reposition the Niger Delta.

    The maiden competition started with rigorous elimination process, which began with 2,880 girls from Senior Secondary School (SSS) 1 and 2 in the nine states (Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Ondo, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Abia and Imo) of the crude oil and gas-rich region.

    From the first screening test, 1,110 girls were selected. From the 1,110 girls, 270 of them were selected at 30 girls per state.

    The girls progressed to the state finals, where 11 girls qualified from each state, leading to the regional finals (in the NDDC’s regions of Western, Central and Eastern), where 11 girls were selected from each of the three regions, totaling 33 and they exhibited various Science, Technology and Mathematics projects, which were thoroughly assessed by eminent scholars.

    Of the 33 girls who participated in the grand finale on April 6 at the Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, ten were selected for recognition, while each of the top five received awards, prizes and N5 million scholarships, among other benefits/gifts.

    The GEMS that made the top ten were Maryanne Ukachukwu (Abia), Ebi Agbodobiri (the only representative from Bayelsa), Esther Ademeta (Ondo), Deborah Doghor (Ondo), Grace Mbora Bassey (Cross River), Uzamere Nowe Edobor (Edo), Blessing James Jeremiah (Cross River), Edidiong Bassey Francis (Akwa Ibom), Amarachi Orjiugo (Rivers) and Ayomide Adeyeye (Ondo).

    One of the nine representatives of Ondo state, Ayomide Adeyeye, emerged the overall winner of the competition.

    Adeyeye went home with a trophy, the latest tablet computer for educational programmes, gold plaque, N200,000 cash and N5 million scholarship for her 5-year tertiary education at N1 million per annum, while her school would also have a Chemistry laboratory from NDDC.

    The first runner up (second position), Amarachi Orjiugo (Rivers) got cash of N100,000; N5 million scholarship, plaque and tablet computer, while the second runner up (third), Edidiong Bassey Francis (Akwa Ibom) got N50,000 cash, N5 million scholarship, plaque and tablet computer.

    The schools of the girls that came second and third would also get from NDDC, Physics and Biology laboratories respectively.

    The fourth position went to Blessing James Jeremiah (Cross River), while Grace Mbora Bassey (Cross River) had the fifth position. Each of the best five GEMS would benefit from the N5 million scholarships for their tertiary education, while each of the 33 girls would have mentors.

    All the directors of NDDC in Bayelsa State contributed N300,000, which was given to the only representative from the state (Ebi Agbodobiri) to motivate her for better performance in future competitions.

    The directors of the Federal Government’s intervention agency also made N500,000 available for the only girl, Esther Ademeta of Ondo State, whose project was on Mathematics, for thinking outside the box and being creative, thereby encouraging her to always put in her best, while Ondo won the award of the competition’s most supportive state.

    The overall winner (Ayomide Adeyeye), while responding on behalf of the 33 finalists, stated that she never thought her project could be adjudged the best, while giving God the glory and she lauded NDDC for the initiative.

    As the winners were celebrating with their parents, guardians, relatives, friends and well-wishers, while taking photographs in the beautifully-decorated Atlantic Hall of Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, the girls who did not receive any award, prize, recognition or scholarship started crying uncontrollably.

    It took the intervention of the Master of Ceremonies (MC), for the crying girls to be pacified. Adeyeye (overall winner) also pleaded with them to try and improve on their projects to emerge winners next time. It was indeed an emotional moment.

    It was obvious that the 33 finalists had begun to see the practicality of science, even at the young age, thereby becoming a foundation upon which they and other children of the Niger Delta, as well as the schools in the region would build their collective future.

    Two of the three assessors also addressed the finalists and persons in attendance on the criteria for selection, which they said included content, demonstration of brilliance and intellect, interest in the project, confidence, practical relevance of project to the society, clear understanding of the project, use of technology and potential for further studies, among others.

    Grand finale of the GEMS competition was attended by a former Deputy Governor of Rivers state, Sir Gabriel Toby, and his wife, as well as a member of the Rivers House of Assembly, Chief Victoria Nyeche, who represents Port Harcourt Constituency One and other eminent personalities.

    Mrs. Semenitari, on April 4, at the Conference Room of the NDDC’s corporate headquarters on Aba Road, Port Harcourt, addressed a news conference, in company with other directors and top officials of the commission, ahead of the April 6 grand finale of the GEMS competition.

    She revealed at the media event that the Federal Government’s intervention agency voted N113, 169,500.00 for the GEMS initiative, which she said was borne out of NDDC’s desire, social commitment and responsibility, in the earnest efforts to facilitate the sustainable development of the Niger Delta region.

    At the grand finale of the GEMS competition, the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari was placing high premium on science and technology, in order to ensure sustainable development in Nigeria and diversification of the nation’s economy.

    Onu was represented by the Director, Gender Desk of the federal ministry, Dr. Nnenna Okoronkwo.

    The acting managing director of NDDC, in her welcome address at the GEMS’ grand finale, urged the nine governors of states in the Niger Delta to partner with the Federal Government’s intervention agency on science and technology.

    Mrs. Semenitari stated that the greatness and power of countries were interrelated, in no small measure; with the top priority they accord science and technology.

  • Kidnapping stifling N’Delta development, says NDDC

    Kidnapping stifling N’Delta development, says NDDC

    Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Tuesday, lamented the negative effects of kidnapping saying violence against contractors was stifling development of the Niger Delta region.

    Acting Managing Director of NDDC, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, was particularly unhappy over the recent killing of two soldiers and an abduction of an expatriate attached to a construction firm, Setraco, in Bayelsa State.

    An expatriate, Ramzi Bau Hadir, 53, was kidnapped by gunmen along the Nembe-Ogbia road last week after a gun duel that left two soldiers dead.

    Semenitari said the attack could stall the inauguration of the Ogbia-Nembe road, a joint project between NDDC and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).

    A statement signed by Daniel Iworiso-Markson, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seriake Dickson, said the NDDC boss spoke in Government House Yenagoa when she paid a courtesy visit to the governor.

    She said the purpose of her visit to Bayelsa was to assess ongoing projects and identify areas of immediate intervention according to needs.

    She said the NDDC has awarded 28 regional projects from its inception, out of which two had been inaugurated.

    She explained that 658 other projects had also been awarded in the areas of shore protection, repair of roads, sand-filling, construction of jetties and electrification.

    She said the abandoned Akenfa bridge project was awarded at the cost of N800 million out of which 50 per cent mobilisation has been paid.

    In his remarks, Dickson warned NDDC against being used as platform for servicing political interest.

    He also suggested that the NDDC should collaborate with state governments in the region to execute priority projects that would serve as a catalyst for the socio-economic development.

    The governor commended the NDDC for the award of contracts in Bayelsa states, but  decried the number of abandoned projects in the state, which he attributed the development to the over-politicization of the activities of the commission.

    He said, “No doubt, contracts were awarded for development projects in Bayelsa but they were abandoned after the payment of mobilization fees. So, in Bayelsa State, you have a litany of abandoned projects in every community, which is not fair.

    “Beneficiaries of these contracts, who thought that the NDDC was just there as a cash cow for them to enrich their pockets at the expense of the impoverished people, who are in need of development is very unfair.”